Guess i am a real doofus – 17 out of 50. My excuse – i was called away from computer, honest. Helena i would have remembered because it is a pretty name. Well, you know what they say, brain cells begin to die off the minute you are born. That was fun.

Berlin, Mynmar, Helsinki, Olso, Paris, Beijing, these are the ones that come to mind now. And most they aren’t even capitals. Damn the media. Too much attention on the globe, not enough pride on North American cities. The Salamander is just an abusive husband (or wife, depending on your persuasion) who beats up on Americans (the spouse) and smiles for the camera.

I finished the 2nd time in 4:23 with all 50 correct. It stinks, though, because I got about 2/3 of the way through it the first time and our power blinked and my computer died. So….wasn’t doing as well the first time around. I knew most, but a few I struggled with and the second time I already knew what the correct answer was for most. It’s been a loooooong time since I did a state capital test!! I knew, of course, all the states in my geographical vicinity and places I’ve visited, not so much some of the others. Good fun, though.

39 of 50 on the first go. Which is even more pathetic than it might otherwise be since I studied these with one of my kids for about an hour less than a week ago and she got 95% on HER quiz. I’m keeping this under my hat with her :)

I was thinking the other day that my geography, while good, is woefully deficient when it comes to decent nations. I don’t know much about Canada e.g. I know they have Sashkatchewan ( see can’t even spell it ) and Manitoba but I don’t which is which on a map. Ontario, I know but is Ottawa the capital of it or is it just the national capital? Alberta and British Columbia I can locate but those eastern seaboard states… not so easy to distinguish Newfoundland from New Brunswick and is Labrador a separate state. How about Nova Scotia? The French are still dangerously close cause, last I heard, St. Pierre and Miquelon are ruled by France and chock full of collaborators and defeatists.

Ottawa is Canada’s capital. It might not be for Quebec if the local government has its way. Quebec City is the capital of the French province. This is where they are outlawing hijabs, Hindu knives and overt symbols of religion. It’s a thriving province apart from other Canadian provinces, does its own thing admirably, has a socialist health care system but Obamacare and the British National Healthcare system sends shivers down their back.

With the exception of Alberta of course, which is rich in oil. Quebec is also strongly Roman Catholic, dislikes France very much, the same way Americans dislike Britain. These are the sons and daughters who got away from the oppression much like the Mayflower Pilgrims.

Oh didn’t mention Quebec not as a slight but simply because most Americans are familiar with Quebec in a way they aren’t with Manitoba. For some strange reason Quebec also seems to have outlaw motorcycle gangs that make American ones seem mild and law abiding.